Bottle conveyer flight



Nov. 26, *i l J. R. DOSTAL BOTTLE CONVEYER ,FLIGHT Filed Oc't. 26, 1939 2 Shee'lZs--Sheerl l 0 A Inventur' JRIIDE'tEI 5 i ttmr'neg Nov. 26, 1940.

J. R.A DQSTAL.

BOTTLE CONVEYER FLIGHT Filed ocx. 26, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 2 Inventur Patented Nov. Z6, 1940 UNITED ,simriisv PATENT l 'BOTTLE coNvEYER FLIGHT l i John R. Dostal, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor, by di# v rect 4and mesne assignments, to Sturdy-Bilt `Equipment Corporation, Milwaukee, Application October 26, 1939, Serial No. 301,408 l v 'z' claims. (o1. 1ers-131) This invention pertains to improvements in bottle Washers, and more particularly to means for locking bottles upon thev endless conveyer of a bottle 'Washing machine.`

The invention has primarily for lits object the provision of a simple andinexpensive locking mechanism; for effectively holding the bottles on the conveyer as it travels through the machine, and which compensates for variations `and irregularities occurring in the contour of the bottle necks.

Incidental to the foregoing,v a Vmore specic object of the invention resides in the provision of an endless carrier for bottle Washing machines,

comprising transverse ilights for reception of the bottles, and a pair of complementary locking bars simultaneously reciprocal in opposite directions for locking and releasing bottles from the carrier.

A still further object is to provide a locking mechanism, which, upon operation, automatically rotates the bottles to a position for proper locking contact, thus compensatingV for irregularities occurring, and'avoiding damage to the bottles.

With the above and other objectsl in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, andvarrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter'described, and moreparticularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that suchv changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come Within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings areillustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a conventional bottle washer equipped with the present invention, parts being broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate structural details;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of one of the carrier flights partially broken away and in section, the locking mechanism being shown in open position;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the locking mechanism in operative position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating a modication of the invention; and

Figure 6 isa `fragmentary plan section illustrating still anothermodiication.

Thepresent invention is designed as an improvement in bottle holders of, the general type disclosed in U. S.`Letters Patent No. 2,094,398, in `which'a single .reciprocative .bar provided with keyhole slots is employedl for engaging the neck of the bottles, adjacent either thebead or head of the bottle, depending upon itsidesign Due to the fact that the keyhole-slots .in the locking bar `are fixed, while vvariations in contour'and dimensions occurin theb'ottles in the course of manufacture,r holders ofthe foregoing type have been found objectionable, in thaty the bottles are frequently damaged, or insecurely locked upon the carrier.

Referring now to that form illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the numeral 1 designates the vc'asingof ya conventional wash-` ing-machine through which an endless carrier C travels in the usual manner;v `The carrier C is of the vtype disclosed in Letters Patent No.2,094, 398, and comprises a `plurality of transverse flights 8 pivotally connected 'attheir ends to form a link conveyer. rEach iiigfht consists of alined upper fand lower `sections 9y and I0, respectively, which yarespaced apart,asbestshown in Figure 4,-and connected at intervals by vertical side ribs I I, and central webs- I2. It will be apparent that whilev each flight may -be castor formed integrally as explained, if desired, for manufacturing'purposes, the sectionsimay be formed separately and connected in any-suitable inanner without affecting the principles of the invention. The upper and llower sections 9' andl II) are provided with alined spaced openings I3, which Aformpockets for the reception of the bottle neck'syas indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4. Reciprocatively mounted on each of the flights between the spaced sections are a pair of cornplementary locking bars I4, which are guided between the ribs II and the central Webs I2, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3. f

The opposed edges of each bar I4 are notched out at spaced intervals, the notches being indicated as I5 terminate at one end in an enlarged recess I6. As best shown in Figures 2 and 3 the notchesicn the adjacent bars are oppositely disposed With relation to their restricted and enlarged portions. One end of each bar terminates in a vertical finger I1 disposed upon the opposite sides of the iiight with relation to the adjacent bar.

.As best shown in Figure 1 the pivotally conof the invention 

